Yinzhen was very filial to the Empress Dowager and respectfully replied, "Preparations are almost complete. Fucha Changhua has been busy with the Ministry of Rites. I plan to take advantage of this smallpox outbreak to promote him to Minister of Rites."
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised; how could there be such a young Minister of Rites?
However, she had no right to interfere in matters of the court, so she didn't refute them, but simply nodded.
Yinzhen then said, "The Cining Palace has been renovated. I have asked them to choose an auspicious day, and you can move to the palace in three days."
The Empress Dowager smiled broadly. Of course she had received the news, which also mentioned that the Cining Palace was exquisitely and luxuriously built, filled with antique treasures, and that it was part of the Emperor's private treasury. She was pleased with herself, but outwardly she declined.
"Sigh, I'm already an old man, what would I do if I went to Cining Palace? I've lived in Yonghe Palace for most of my life, and I'm used to it. I'll retire here from now on."
Yinzhen immediately retorted, "Your Majesty is in good health and still young, why would you say such a thing? Besides, the Qing Dynasty is now at peace and prosperous, and it is the perfect time to honor the Empress Dowager. Your Majesty need not refuse. If Your Majesty has any needs, I will certainly do my best."
The Empress Dowager was pleased to hear this and agreed to the relocation of the palace.
In addition, there were still some of the late emperor's concubines in the harem, such as Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Consort Cheng, and Shou Kang Palace could not accommodate so many people. The Empress Dowager also asked Yinzhen about his plans.
After a moment's thought, Yinzhen replied, "I believe that the princes can take their birth mothers out of the palace to be raised and enjoy the happiness of family life, which can also solve the problem of insufficient housing in Shou Kang Palace. However, the specific procedures for taking them out of the palace still need to be discussed."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Indeed. Since ascending the throne, the Emperor has shown great foresight and has considered all aspects carefully."
The mother and son chatted for a while longer, and the Empress Dowager was still talking about the grandson of the emperor: "You should bring those women in your harem in soon. I think Chengqian Palace is almost finished being repaired, and the Empress should also enter the palace. Also, Honghui, Hongyan, Hutu, and the others should not stay outside for too long."
Yinzhen nodded in agreement.
Evenings were spent dealing with state affairs, with lists of investiture being filled out one after another, and the entire Hall of Mental Cultivation was brightly lit by candlelight.
Su Peisheng watched as the clock struck twelve, past midnight, and the Emperor showed no sign of wanting to rest. Remembering his wife's words, he had no choice but to steel himself and step forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty, it is already midnight. Before entering the palace, Consort Chun instructed me to remind you to rest before midnight. You see..."
Yinzhen was engrossed in writing when he was disturbed like this, and he was about to get angry.
But when Su Peisheng mentioned Changning, his anger instantly dissipated. He glanced at the time and saw that it was indeed past midnight. He had no choice but to put down his pen, stretch his shoulders slightly, and say, "Alright, let's rest then."
"Hey!" Su Peisheng was overjoyed. He knew that mentioning Master Chun would work!
He helped Yinzhen wash up and rest, and seeing that he kept moving his neck, he hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, are you tired? Would you like to have two palace maids give you a massage?"
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen shook his head. Forget it. If he really let a palace maid massage him, and Yaoxian, that little jealous pot, found out, she would definitely make a scene and accuse him of "not upholding male virtues."
The thought of her pouting and sulking face made Yinzhen chuckle.
Seeing that His Majesty was happy, Su Peisheng thought that there was hope and was about to call two palace maids up. But Yinzhen said next, "No palace maids, just two strong eunuchs will do."
Su Peisheng responded and withdrew.
The next day, after Yinzhen woke up, he went to a secluded palace. Although it was remote, it was very clean, and the palace servants who came and went were all respectful and knew their place.
Yinreng was already kneeling at the door to greet them.
Seeing his once aloof, gentle, and unyielding second elder brother, the Crown Prince, now prostrate at his feet, Yinzhen felt only heaviness in his heart, not a trace of pride.
His feelings for his second brother were complex.
To be honest, my second brother truly treated me like a younger brother, and I had received a lot of care from him in the past. It's just a pity that his power struggle with the Emperor led to his current predicament.
However, he was also glad that he lost this game, otherwise he wouldn't have had the chance to go on stage.
Yinzhen, with a gentle expression, quickly helped Yinreng up, saying, "Second Brother, there's no need for such formalities."
Yinreng smiled faintly, but still performed the proper courtesies: "Thank you, Your Majesty, this humble subject is grateful."
Yinzhen felt a little sad upon hearing this.
"Second brother, I intend to grant you a noble title."
Yinreng shook his head: "No need. The late emperor has already stripped me of my yellow sash, so it is not appropriate for the emperor to bestow another title upon me."
Yinzhen looked at him. The vegetarian diet and chanting of Buddhist scriptures for many days had made him quite thin. Although he still looked as handsome as ever and was in a peaceful situation, there was still an indelible weariness in the corners of his eyes and brows.
"This humble subject will leave the palace on his own. However, as father and son, I wish to ask the Emperor for a decree to go to the Fengxian Hall to offer incense and kowtow to the late Emperor."
Yinzhen nodded: "The mansion outside has been repaired for Second Brother, and Hongxi and Second Sister-in-law have already moved there."
Yinreng raised his head, looked at his younger brother who had grown into the emperor, and smiled: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Yinzhen didn't want to see him dejected, and felt a surge of anger in his chest: "Second brother, why should you belittle yourself? I am well aware of your talents. The Japanese pirates in the south have been making frequent moves recently, and I am already planning to send troops to fight them. There will definitely be a time when you can be of use to me."
At this point, Yinreng's expression softened slightly. He let out a long sigh, knelt down again, and kowtowed earnestly: "If the country summons me or His Majesty commands me, I will not hesitate to die a hundred times."
After seeing Yinreng off, Yinzhen finally felt relieved.
Three days later, the coronation ceremony was successfully held.
Consort De was also successfully honored as Empress Dowager and resided in Cining Palace.
Consort Hui and Consort Rong were posthumously honored as Imperial Concubine Dowager, Consort Cheng was also honored as Imperial Concubine Dowager Cheng, Consort Mi was posthumously honored as Imperial Concubine Dowager Mi, and Consort Min, the birth mother of the thirteenth prince, was posthumously honored as Imperial Noble Consort Jingmin.
Upon learning of this, the thirteenth prince couldn't help but shed tears. The fourth prince still remembered, and finally, he had given his mother a sense of honor.
Princess Wenke and Princess Dunke have not died young like in history, and are gradually taking on the responsibilities of princesses. They are even more excited to hear the news that their mother has been posthumously honored as Imperial Noble Consort.
After the late emperor's concubines were officially appointed, they became the new emperor's concubines.
The coronation ceremony for Changning was also very grand.
Logically speaking, if an empress were to be brought in through the Great Qing Gate, there was one condition: the new emperor had no primary consort upon ascending the throne, and the wedding had to take place within the palace.
Changning naturally does not meet this condition.
When Yinzhen initially proposed that she enter through the Great Qing Gate and undergo a new imperial marriage ceremony, with the Empress's phoenix palanquin being carried in with great fanfare, it was met with considerable opposition in the court.
However, the objection was ineffective.
Because the Emperor's mind is made up.
Furthermore, the person in charge of this matter was the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Fucha Changhua.
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